What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
Who am I? What have you done with Karen? What’s happening to me? I don’t know why — whether some otherworldly entity has commandeered my body — but I’m having a majorly transformational moment with eyeliner right now, specifically brown eyeliner.
Actually, I do know why… Lately, whenever I look in a mirror, I feel like my eyes look even more exhausted than usual, and black liner makes it worse. Ironically, I used to almost exclusively wear black liner, and I LOVED it.
Then I discovered dark brown MAC Coffee.
MIND BLOWN.
It filled the same need that black liners filled — creating a thicker lash base, bigger-looking lids, defining the shape of my eyes — but didn’t look as harsh.
So…I just figured out that even lighter shades than brown, like taupe, can work like this too. And taupe. Is. Dope.
I’m super in love with this $33 liner from the Chanel Le Stylo Yeux line called Mat Taupe, which is — surprise! — a matte taupe. Like MAC Coffee, it doesn’t have red undertones, but it’s slightly lighter and less gray.
When I wear it to tight line and along my lash lines, it does ALL THE GOOD STUFF — defines my eyes, makes my lashes look thicker, etc. — but it’s even less harsh than dark brown.
For years, I pooh-poohed the idea of wearing brown liner because I thought it was boring (“Why wear brown when you could wear black?”), but now I get it. Now I know.
Not to Chrissy Teigan you again (I’m a little obsessed with her at the moment), but for her makeup in her Cravings cookbook, she often wears a light brown or taupe liner, and the more I look at her pics in the book, the more I can see why Mat Taupe works so well. It softly defines eyes without creating any harsh lines.
I dunno if you’ve ever tried wearing a taupe liner or a light brown, but I think you should, especially this one from Chanel because IT’S GOOD.
VIVA LA TAUPE LINER!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Do you ever wear gray liner? My go-to when I’m in a hurry is a rose gold shadow with gray liner. I like it for similar reasons–it gives definition, but isn’t as harsh as black. By the way, I got the Urban Decay liner in mushroom that you recommended a while back with my 20 percent off Ulta coupon, but haven’t tried it yet.
Hi Jan! Yes, I’ve worn gray liner and like it quite a bit. Do you have a go-to gray?
And oh, I’ve been loving on Mushroom lately so much. Hope you love it. 🙂
My go to is Mally’s Gunmetal eye shadow. I like her eye shadows as liners because they are so soft, go on smoothly and last all day.
Funny you should mention her because I’m testing a few of her items from her latest collection. 🙂
Great. I’m anxious to read what you think about her line. My favorites are the eye shadow sticks and the Poreless Face Defender.
Okay I’ll have to pick this up. I love the formula of the Chanel Stylo Waterproof but shimmers all make my eyes itch like crazy right now, and I literally never wear black eyeliner!
I saw your IG story comment about brown mascara though ? I do brown mascara most of the time because I feel it works better for my coloring. I feel like black mascara only works if I’m wearing dark liner. If I had your coloring I’d wear black mascara too! Although I did just order the Glossier Lash Slick, that only comes in black.
I know a lot of people love it but on me brown mascara is totally pointless, LOL! I don’t hate it, I just don’t have any love for it, ya know? Mat Taupe has *no* shimmer so I hope it works out for you. 🙂
Hi Karen! ? I’ve read your blog daily for years, and this is the post that finally inspired me to comment, haha. I’ve been thinking about trying Mat Taupe for months, and your review has pushed me over the edge. I would LOVE to see a look using this liner with the original (medium) Les Beiges eyeshadow palette!
Hi Sarah! ? Nice to meet you! So glad you decided to stop by and say hello. That’s such a good idea to do Mat Taupe with Les Beiges… wish I thought of it, LOL! OK, I have some glosses to swatch so I’ll make a note to do that combo. 🙂
Have you tried any other Stylo Yeuxs? They’re my favorite eyeliner.
Eep, can’t wait to see what you come up with! Currently my only Stylo Yeux is Ardoise…I actually bought it to go with the Les Beiges palette based on your recommendation! Ardoise + Les Beiges is my everyday eye look now. I’ve really grown to appreciate the more subtle eye makeup as I’ve gotten a bit older.
That’s a good one and I use it all the time. 🙂 And I totally get loving subtle looks. The beauty is there are still ways to mix them up with liner, etc.!
Great – and now I have to buy a taupe liner 😉 And not just any liner – the Chanel one 🙂 Seriously, I love Chanel stylo eyeliners – I have at least five at the moment (or even more). They are the best. I thought that I had enough – I see I was wrong 😀
They’re SO good, aren’t they? They’re the only liner I actually finish!
I have always worn brown eyeliner, never black. My favorite these days is the Chanel Stylo waterproof in Espresso. I also loved Bobbi Brown liner in Dark Chocolate or Caviar ( dark brown with a blueish undertone). I just ran out of my Chanel liner and was thinking of going with a lighter shade for the summer. May have to wait though, until the next payday.
Be well!
I’m glad you like the Chanel Stylo, Jane. It truly is one of my faves! 🙂
How’s your summer going?
Where to buy the bracelet, and specifically the cat charm?
Hi Lisa,
The bracelet was a gift so unfortunately I don’t have a specific place to point you to; both the charm and the bracelet are by Chanel.
You know I’m 100% in agreement with brown liner. I haven’t been able to wear black for years because it’s just so unflattering on me. It’s like zombie grandma goes to a goth club. I tried a few grays but they were no better so I must be on the warmer side. Nice, soft, neutral to warm browns are my jam. I’ve never tried a taupe and I’m a sucker for Chanel so this is going on my list. 🙂
Hey, I wanna hang with zombie grandma at the goth club! ?
I feel like black liner is just too much contrast with my super pale skin. Add in the fact that I am OLD and it’s just a mess. I’ve almost always gone with gray, brown or taupe liners.
I wish more companies would make waterproof brown or blackish brown mascara. I feel like black mascara is just too startling for a day look for me. I know there are pros out there who insist you should only wear black mascara, but I disagree.
Have you tried the waterproof Voluminous in Black Brown one by L’Oreal? I know a few makeup artists who swear by it for waterproof shoots.
Definitely can’t wear black eyeliner anymore (spuds the dog look now when im tired) but I love richer colors on me. I love the chanel stylo so will try This! I second Bobbi Brown Caviar too it’s awesome.
LOVE those earrings in your photo!
Looks like I might need this! This actually looks like a really dope nude lip liner for my skin tone. I need to swatch it asap!